Agricultural enterprises—crop or livestock—deal with such concepts as labor supply, marketing, finances, natural resources, genetic stock, nutrition, equipment, and hazards. While it is possible to effectively manipulate each mechanism of successful farming individually, better results can often be obtained by treating the farming operation as a system. The interactions, then, among system components may become more important than how each component functions by itself. Treating production operations holistically offers greater management flexibility, provides for more environmentally and economically sound practices, and creates safer and healthier conditions for workers and for farm animals. NIFA staffers conduct research, education, and extension activities in programs related directly and indirectly to agricultural systems.

For all of the 19th century and much of the 20th century, U.S. agriculture was primarily based on maximizing production. As a result, the nation became the breadbasket for the world, generating large surpluses and even encouraging farmers to remove some land from production. These production successes depressed prices for many commodities and have kept them there. Prices that producers receive for agricultural commodities have not kept up with their increasing production costs. Subsequently, narrow profit margins have driven smaller producers out of agriculture and forced larger producers to become more efficient in their operations—minimizing expenses while maximizing production. Public interests have further constrained farmers by an increasing demand for clean air and water, healthy soils, humane animal treatment, and minimal chemical applications.

Under this scenario, smaller producers and producers of specialty products often struggle to succeed. By taking a more entrepreneurial approach to producing and marketing their goods, however, these producers can be successful. Organic, horticultural, and